Liberty cross



(No Model.)

L. GROSS.

WIRE STRETOHBR.

I No. 493,686. I Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIBERTY CROSS, OF POYNETTE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T O EDGAR E. HINKSON, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,686, dated March 21, 1893.

Application filed January 6, 1893. Serial No, 457,504. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIBERTY CRoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poynette, in the county of Columbia and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire stretchers, and to provide a simple and inexpensive one capable of drawing a fence wire to the desired tension, and of holding the same until stapled or otherwise secured to a fence post.

A further object of the invention is to enable a wire stretcher to be readily employed for withdrawing staples from fence posts.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawingsigure 1 is a perspective view of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with this invention, the jaws being closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the jaws open. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the jaw of the long lever.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a long lever, and 2 a short lever which is pivoted near its front end to the long lever, thereby causing the levers to operate similar to a pair of pliers. Each lever has its forward end curved to form a heel or fulcrum 3, which is adapted to bear against a fence post to permit the entire device to operate as a lever in stretching a fence wire, and both levers are oppositely curved rearward of the heel to give the fulcrum greater prominence and effect. The forward end of the long lever is provided at its outer side with a forwardly extending flange to form a jaw 4, and the other lever is provided with a laterally extending flange or lug forming a jaw 5 which extends over the curved portion of the jaw 41., and is adapted to co-operate with the latter in clamping a wire. The forward end of the shorter lever in opening turns outward or upward on, the pivot 6 in a direction away from the heel of the other lever, whereby in the use of the wire stretcher the tendency of a wire in being tightened will be to draw the jaws of the levers in closer contact, thereby preventing any slipping of the wire and obviating the necessity of holding the jaws together by hand. The rear end of the shorter lever is provided with a laterally extending handle 7, and the short lever back of the heel is slightly offset from the other lever. The longer 1e- Ver has its rear end 8 curved, rounded and pointed whereby a heel is formed and the lever is adapted to be inserted in a staple and for withdrawing the latter.

It will be seen that the wire stretcher is simple, inexpensive and efiective, and is adapted for withdrawing staples.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. After a wire has been stretched, the wire stretcher may be readily held in proper position during the operation of stapling, with very little trouble and inconvenience, by resting it against the body of the operator, therebyleaving the hands of the operator free for stapling.

What I claim isl. A wire stretcher comprising the long and short levers curved at their forward ends to form a heel and provided with jaws, the longer lever having its rear end curved and pointed, a pivot connecting the levers at the heel, and a handle extending laterally from the rear end of the shorter lever, substantially as described.

2. A wire stretcher comprising the long and the short levers curved at their forward ends to form a heel, the long lever having its rear end curved and pointed, and its forward end rounded and provided with an outwardly extending flange to form a jaw and the shorter lever being provided at its foi'ward end with my own I have hereto affixed my signature in y a laterally extending flange, forrfning a jaw the presence of two Witnesses. and arran ed opposite the jaw 0 the other T, lever, a pisot connecting the levers, and ahan- LIBERI Y S 5 clle extending laterally from the rear end of Witnessesi the shorter lever, substantially as described. THOMAS MALONE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as J. J. \VILSON. 

